Savant Syndrome

Autism

1. Savant Syndrome: Excellent memory - “very deep, but exceedingly narrow“ Have difficulty putting memory to use Savant skills usually found in one or more of five major areas: art, musical abilities, calendar calculation, mathematics, spatial skills 50% of savants have autism; the other 50% often have some other form of central nervous system injury or disease.

2. CAUSES

   • Symptoms of ASD are caused by an abnormality in the development of the brain that occurs before, or soon after birth. It’s now known exactly what causes this abnormality.
   • Some evidence shows that having a defective gene may be a risk factor in developing ASD. These genes may be inherited, and the chance of you having ASD if your brother or sister has it, is slightly higher than in the rest of the general population
   • Some research suggests that environmental factors such as pollution or viruses such as rubella (German measles) may trigger ASD. However, ASD is not a result of anything that a parent has done either during pregnancy or after the child is born.

3. Diagnosis

   • Getting a diagnosis for autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is important, to enable access to the right services and treatments to support individual needs.
   • ASD may be difficult to diagnose as symptoms can vary considerably from person to person, and mild symptoms can be hard to spot.
   • Usually diagnosed between three and four years of age. Some people may not be diagnosed until they are older, especially if they have mild symptoms. ASD is not usually diagnosed before a child is two years old.
   • Diagnosis in adults: some people are not diagnosed with ASD when they are children. If you have the symptoms of ASD and it interferes with your work or social life, you should speak with your doctor.

4. Tests for ASD

   • There are no specific tests for ASD, although other tests such as hearing tests and blood tests may be done to rule out other health conditions.

5. Treatment For ASD

   • There is no treatment that can ‘cure’ autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). However, there are many ways in which a person with ASD can get support. Many people with ASD will require specialist care and support throughout their lives. Health professionals will work as a team to care for them.
   • The aim of interventions is to help a person with ASD to speak and communicate better, and to get along better in education and at work. Health professionals think that interventions work better when a child with ASD starts them from a young age.
   • Because ASD differs from person to person, the type of support a person needs will depend on their own individual circumstances.